Loved it! And the madonnas were not only in the paintings.

books:


	• The Madonnas of Leningrad: A Novel (P.S.) Debra Dean Harper Perennial, 2007 - 256 pages average customer review:based on 67 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Docent's Take

I work as a docent at two museums, so this book had a particularly strong impact on me. As a devoted lover of fine art and literature, and never having realized my lifelong dream of visiting the Hermitage, I found this book satisfying and moving on so many levels. A beautifully written tale of human courage and sacrifice, of beauty and horror intertwined, The Madonnas of Leningrad is a touching, aching testament to the human spirit. I'm now looking forward even more eagerly to my own next opportunities to bring the beauty of art and the human drama it represents to the visitors on my own tours!

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Loved it! And the madonnas were not only in the paintings.

Someone may already have pointed this out, but isn't part of the point of the shifting timescape the fact that this is what happens in Alzheimer's? One minute you're there, and the next, you're not? Or you're somewhere else? I found the author's use of time-shifting extremely effective. In addition, I thought her blending of Marina's lives (for lack of a better word) was handled with delicacy and skill. The way she came back, at the end, to Marina's sweet attempt to "show her rescuer the world" was, in my mind, exquisitely done and very poignant. Marina had several worlds--some real, some imagined--all along. I am fortunate to have some knowledge of Russian history and the siege of Leningrad, but that certainly is not a requirement for enjoying the narrative. I thought this book was terrific--my favorite summer read. Highly recommended.

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Intriguing and Fun to Read

This book was recommended to me by a friend and after reading it I have recommended it to all of my friends and also gave my copy to my daughter.

Compelling

This book spoke to me on many levels. My dad had Alzheimers. I visited Russia in the summer of 2006, toured the Hermitage, and like the author, had some emotional "breakdowns" upon learning the tragic details of the siege of Leningrad. The descriptions of the paintings transported me back to the beautifully restored rooms of the Hermitage, where babushki still sit, keeping an eye on the visitors. I will never forget the surprised, yet appreciative looks on their faces when I thanked each of them in Russian for the privilege of viewing "their" treasures.

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, page 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

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